With the Ravens dropping to 4-4 in their 36-21 loss at Carolina, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:

1. The pass rush has produced a total of one sack since dropping Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota a team-record 11 times and didn’t take down Cam Newton once. Twenty-two of Baltimore’s league-leading 27 sacks came against Tennessee, Buffalo, and Cleveland. Is a bit more consistency too much to ask?

2. With the way the first half was going, the head-scratching Joe Flacco interception with no Ravens receiver even in the area felt inevitable. Pass protection wasn’t great and there were again too many drops, but Flacco went 0-for-9 with two picks on throws traveling 15 or more yards downfield. Yuck.

3. The running game was buoyed by three gains of 13 or more yards early on, but Baltimore averaged a season-best 5.6 yards per carry, one of the few positives from Sunday. I don’t see a successful playoff push without improvement on the ground. The October numbers support that.

4. According to Pro Football Focus, Jimmy Smith gave up five of six targets thrown into his coverage for 58 yards. He ranks 106th out of 110 qualified corners in PFF’s grading system. I’ll stand by what I wrote last week, but the Ravens really need to start seeing improvement.

5. It was a forgettable day for the league’s top-ranked defense, but slot cornerback Tavon Young played well, allowing only one catch for minus-two yards and making two tackles. He’s quietly played well since his rough outing at Cincinnati in Week 2.

7. Allowing the fourth-and-7 conversion to set up Graham Gano’s 54-yard field goal to end the first half was embarrassing for Wink Martindale and the defense. How no one thought to call a timeout there is a bad look for both the coaching staff and veteran players.

8. After knocking off early rust, Marshal Yanda has again settled in as one of the NFL’s best guards, ranking fifth among all qualified guards in PFF’s grading system. In addition to giving others plenty of help, Yanda has occasionally even pulled on play-action to protect Flacco’s blindside this season.

9. Considering the resources that have been devoted to the safety and inside linebacker positions, the Ravens’ inability to consistently cover tight ends and the middle of the field remains very frustrating. Sunday was a rough day for C.J. Mosley and Tony Jefferson in particular.

10. Some criticism for the Lamar Jackson short-arm incompletion to Willie Snead and praise for the rookie’s play in garbage time from fans and media seemed over the top. If Baltimore falls out of playoff contention, I’m all for evaluating for the future by starting Jackson. Until then, just stop.

11. The left-side combination of Jermaine Eluemunor and Hroniss Grasu for 19 plays gave off quite a preseason feel. Being down to your third-string options on the blindside is a sobering thought with Pittsburgh coming to town. Get well, Ronnie Stanley and Alex Lewis. And James Hurst and Bradley Bozeman.

12. In order to finish with the 10-6 record that usually makes a team a strong bet to at least secure a wild card, the Ravens will need six wins in their remaining eight games. Baltimore hasn’t pulled off a 6-2 stretch since going 9-2 to begin the 2012 season.

PITTSBURGH — The Ravens and Pittsburgh renew one of the NFL’s greatest rivalries Sunday night while trying to keep up with first-place Cincinnati in the AFC North.

With the Bengals pulling out a last-minute win at Atlanta earlier in the day, Baltimore will attempt to secure its first win at Heinz Field since the 2015 season and remain in a first-place tie through the first quarter of the season.

As expected after practicing fully on Thursday and Friday, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (knee) and defensive tackle Michael Pierce (foot) are active and will play after sitting out the Week 3 win over Denver. Cornerback Brandon Carr (knee), defensive back Anthony Levine (hamstring), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot), and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (knee) will also play after all were listed as questionable. Suggs was limited in practices all week, but the 16th-year linebacker wasn’t about to miss a chance to renew his personal rivalry with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Rookie tight end Hayden Hurst’s NFL debut will have to wait another week as he was deactivated after practicing on a limited basis all week. The first-round pick was sidelined more than a month after sustaining a stress fracture in his foot in late August, and the Ravens are being cautious in easing him back into the picture. Hurst went through a pre-game workout with the other tight ends before the inactives list was released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Veteran quarterback Robert Griffin III was a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game.

As expected, the Steelers have deactivated starting safety Morgan Burnett (groin) and nickel cornerback Mike Hilton (elbow) after they were listed as doubtful on the final injury report.

Sunday’s referee is Tony Corrente.

According to Weather.com, the forecast in Pittsburgh calls for mostly clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s with calm winds up to four miles per hour and no chance of precipitation.

The Ravens are wearing their white jerseys with black pants while Pittsburgh dons black tops with gold pants.

Sunday marks the 45th all-time meeting in the regular season between these AFC North rivals as the Steelers enjoy a 24-20 advantage. Pittsburgh has won three straight after the Ravens had prevailed in the previous four meetings, a stretch that included the 2014 postseason.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Despite listing seven players as questionable on the final injury report, the Ravens are getting healthier ahead of their Week 4 trip to Pittsburgh.

Inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (knee) and defensive tackle Michael Pierce (foot) were among those officially receiving the questionable designation, but both are expected to play after practicing fully on Thursday and Friday. They sat out the Week 3 win over Denver and will offer a boost as Baltimore tries to slow a Steelers offense averaging 29.3 points per game so far in 2018.

“They both seem good. I don’t see any reason they wouldn’t play,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ll just have to make sure. I guess they could always have a reaction; I haven’t talked to the trainers yet in terms of how they reacted to today’s practice. That’s always a part of the evaluation, but based on what I saw today, they looked good.”

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (knee) was also listed as questionable, but he was able to return to practice on a limited basis on Friday, easing concerns about his availability on Sunday night. It’s worth noting the seven-time Pro Bowl selection didn’t talk with the media this week, an unusual development suggesting his knee won’t be 100 percent as the Ravens try to secure their first win at Heinz Field since 2015.

Cornerback Brandon Carr (knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot), and defensive back Anthony Levine (hamstring) are also officially questionable, but all are expected to play after practicing fully on Thursday and Friday.

The most interesting injury question will be the status of rookie tight end Hayden Hurst, who practiced this week for the first time since sustaining a stress fracture in his foot last month. The first-round pick was a limited participant in practices all week, but the Ravens liked what they saw from him after a month-long layoff.

“You can’t really say he didn’t miss a beat just because who knows?” Harbaugh said. “We’re not really playing padded football in practice as much, but it didn’t really seem like there was a difference between when he left and what he did this week. I thought he looked very good, very strong. As far as his availability to the game, it will depend on what the trainers say. We’ll just have to see how that goes. It’s something they’ll evaluate between now and then.”

Defensive tackle Willie Henry (hernia surgery) and rookie cornerback Anthony Averett (hamstring) have been officially ruled out for Week 4. With Averett missing his second straight game, the Ravens have only four healthy cornerbacks available, making a weekend roster move possible with cornerbacks Robertson Daniel and Makinton Dorleant currently on the practice squad.

Only two players — safety Morgan Burnett and cornerback Mike Hilton — appeared on Pittsburgh’s final injury report, but they are listed as doubtful to play on Sunday. Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was removed from the injury report after dealing with an abdomen injury earlier in the week, but he practiced fully on Friday.

The Weather.com forecast for Sunday night calls for partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-70s with calm winds at six miles per hour and only a 10-percent chance of precipitation.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Several Ravens players returned to practice Thursday while longtime outside linebacker Terrell Suggs continued to rest a sore knee ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Pittsburgh.

The seven-time Pro Bowl selection was absent for a second straight day and has yet to speak to the media this week, an unusual development that brings at least some small question to his status. Suggs wouldn’t need to practice in order to play Sunday night — he’s missed entire practice weeks before playing in past games — but how close to 100 percent he’ll be is a fair concern. The 35-year-old was on the field for the final defensive series of the Week 3 win over Denver, making two tackles and pressuring quarterback Case Keenum into a fourth-down incompletion that gave the ball back to the Ravens.

Assuming he plays, Suggs will renew an individual rivalry with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that dates back to 2004.

“He’s a first-ballot [Hall of Fame] guy for me,” Roethlisberger said in a conference call this week. “I’m not just trying to pump him up because we’re about to play him. I truly feel that way. I know he does a lot of talking about me, too, but I think there’s a lot of mutual respect there between each other. There’s a little bit of talking on the field — I wouldn’t call it trash talking — but there’s some mutual respect trash talking that goes on. It’s a special rivalry he and I have.”

Three-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (knee) practiced fully on Thursday, a good sign for his potential return to action after a one-game absence. Mosley and defensive tackle Michael Pierce (foot) — who also sat out the Denver game — were full participants a day after being limited in practice.

Cornerback Brandon Carr (knee) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot) were listed as full participants after sitting out Wednesday’s workout, leaving little doubt about their availability for Sunday night. Quarterback Lamar Jackson also practiced a day after sitting out with an illness.

Rookie tight end Hayden Hurst worked on a limited basis once again after practicing for the first time in over a month on Wednesday. The first-round pick acknowledged feeling some soreness in his return from a stress fracture in his foot, but he’s eager to make his NFL debut whenever he receives the green light.

“I’m preparing every day to go out and play like I’m playing on Sunday,” Hurst said. “I think I’m good to go. It’s up to the trainers and what they think is right for me. Like I said, I’m ready to go whenever.”

Pittsburgh wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice as he continues to deal with an abdomen injury, but starting offensive linemen David DeCastro (hand) and Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) practiced fully for the second straight day. The Steelers were without both starters on the right side of their offensive line against Tampa Bay on Monday.

With the Ravens improving to 2-1 in their 27-14 win over Denver, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:

1. Joe Flacco is on pace for 4,741 yards and 32 touchdowns, which would set career highs. His 6.89 yards per attempt could still tick up more and he now needs to play well on the road, but Flacco ranks ninth in Total QBR, a metric usually unkind to him.

2. If we’re going to praise Flacco after he dealt with the lack of pass-catching talent in recent years, Marty Mornhinweg also deserves credit for the strong offensive start. He put together a superb game plan to help neutralize the Denver pass rush and the offensive line excelled in pass protection.

3. The running game ranks 31st at 3.1 yards per attempt. It’s still early, but the comments citing the need to just break a long run are reminding me of 2013 when the Ravens ranked last in yards per carry (3.1). Offensive success won’t continue without better production on the ground.

4. After registering a sack, four quarterback hits, and seven total pressures, Za’Darius Smith now ranks ninth among edge defenders in Pro Football Focus’ pass rushing productivity this season. His improvement and ability to pressure from the inside have made for a strong start to a contract year.

5. Kenny Young continues to impress after recording a team-high 10 tackles. The rookie makes his share of mistakes, but you don’t notice because of the speed and aggressiveness with which he plays. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he’ll do with more experience and knowledge of the defense.

6. It was a dubious beginning for Ronnie Stanley as he was beaten by rookie Bradley Chubb for a sack on the second play from scrimmage, but he was strong after that, finishing with PFF’s second-highest grade for a Baltimore offensive player behind Flacco. The Ravens need more of that.

7. I’ve been in favor of giving Tyus Bowser more defensive snaps, but it was his whiff on a block that led to Sam Koch’s punt being blocked and an early 7-0 deficit. That’s not going to garner more favor with the coaching staff.

8. Chris Wormley is only 12 defensive snaps shy of matching his rookie season total. His play hasn’t jumped off the page, but he’s been solid filling in at the 3-technique spot for Willie Henry and is stronger and more versatile than he was a year ago.

9. Three of the five field goals made by Justin Tucker have been from 52 yards or longer. Dating back to last year, he’s made eight straight from 50 or more. Remember when Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell made the Pro Bowl instead of him?

10. Regression to the mean is inevitable with the Ravens going 12-for-12 in the red zone to begin the season — Philadelphia ranked first last year at 65.45 percent — but you have to be encouraged by the offensive diversity with seven different players already scoring touchdowns.

11. Mark Andrews is one of the biggest surprises of the young season. Seeing him make plays down the seam makes it that much more enticing to think about what the intermediate passing game could look like when Hayden Hurst returns in the not-too-distant future.

12. Buck Allen leads the Ravens with four touchdowns. He has to be on John Harbaugh’s fantasy team, right?

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BALTIMORE — The Ravens will be without two key defensive players for their Week 3 meeting with the Denver Broncos.

Ten days after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee, three-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker C.J. Mosley is inactive and will miss only the third game in his NFL career. The news wasn’t surprising as the 2014 first-round pick sat out Friday’s practice after participating in Thursday’s session on only a limited basis. Rookie young Kenny Young is expected to make his first NFL start next to fellow inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor for the Baltimore defense, and safety Eric Weddle will relay calls from the sideline in the defensive huddle as he did in the second half of the Week 2 loss at Cincinnati.

The other concerning Week 3 absence for the Ravens is defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who missed practices all week with a foot injury. The Broncos entered Sunday ranked second in the NFL in rushing offense, so not having Pierce’s 6-foot, 340-pound frame in the defensive line rotation will be significant. With Pierce inactive and Willie Henry still recovering from August hernia surgery, rookie defensive lineman Zach Sieler — active for the first time in his career — and Patrick Ricard will need to offer contributions behind starters Brandon Williams, Chris Wormley, and Brent Urban.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is active and will start despite injuring his right elbow late in the fourth quarter of the Bengals game. He practiced with a brace on his right arm all week, but the Ravens waiving reserve offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor on Saturday signaled that Stanley would play against the Broncos.

Linebacker Albert McClellan, cornerback Robertson Daniel, and wide receiver and return specialist Tim White are all active after being added to the 53-man roster this week. White will take over the return duties for Janarion Grant, who was waived Saturday after fumbling a return in each of the first two games. Daniel gives Baltimore a fifth healthy cornerback after rookie Anthony Averett injured his hamstring late in the week.

Broncos defensive back Adam Jones (thigh) is inactive, but starting right tackle Jared Veldheer will play for Denver after passing concussion protocol late in the week.

As was the case in the season opener two weeks ago, rain will be a factor as Weather.com forecasts a 90-percent chance of light-to-moderate precipitation throughout the afternoon with temperatures in the low 60s. Winds will be six to seven miles per hour, making for a better playing environment than what we saw in Week 1.

Sunday’s referee is Ron Torbert.

The Ravens are wearing their purple jerseys with white pants while Denver dons white tops with white pants for Week 3.

Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis is Sunday’s “Ravens Legend of the Game” and will receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring during a halftime ceremony

Sunday marks the 12th all-time meeting between these teams with the Broncos holding a 6-5 advantage and winning the last three regular-season encounters. The Ravens are 5-1 against Denver in regular-season games at M&T Bank Stadium and, of course, topped the Broncos in their 2000 and 2012 playoff runs that resulted in Super Bowl championships.

Grant had won the preseason competition for the return specialist job over White and even broke off a 51-yard punt return in the opener against Buffalo, but he also fumbled a punt in each of the first two games. The Ravens lost neither fumble, but White had been receiving more return reps during practices this week, leaving one to wonder if a change was being pondered.

“Janarion understands the importance of hanging on to the ball,” special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said on Thursday. “It’s the first and foremost thing of being a returner. It’s having the ball at the end of the play. He gets it; he’s working on it. We all understand it. The fact that his teammates have been there to rescue the situation doesn’t lessen the importance of hanging on to the ball.”

White also had problems with ball security this summer, losing a fumble in the preseason win at Indianapolis.

Daniel’s promotion to the 53-man roster stemmed from the hamstring injury suffered by rookie cornerback Anthony Averett late in the week. With Jimmy Smith serving two more games of a four-game suspension and Maurice Canady recently going to injured reserve, the Ravens found themselves with just four healthy cornerbacks on the roster: Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Tavon Young, and rookie free agent Darious Williams. Daniel has played in just one career NFL game, but he’s spent parts of the last three seasons with the Ravens, making him familiar with their defensive and special-teams playbooks.

Eluemunor had been a healthy scratch in each of the first two weeks as Baltimore elected to go with rookies Orlando Brown Jr. and Bradley Bozeman as the only active reserves. Waiving him signals that left tackle Ronnie Stanley’s injured right elbow isn’t a big concern as you’d expect the Ravens to carry an extra lineman if there were real doubt about his status.

The Ravens are unlikely to carry only seven offensive linemen on the 53-man roster for long, leading one to believe Eluemunor could be re-signed next week or at least added to the practice squad if he clears waivers. Grant would also be a logical candidate to be added to the practice squad.

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Running the football and stopping the run might be as clichéd as it gets when reciting keys to a game, but the Ravens can’t afford to get cute against Denver with three straight road games — two against 2017 playoff teams — looming after Sunday’s home affair. Meanwhile, the Broncos have started 2-0 for the sixth straight year, but winning their first two games — both at home just like this season — didn’t mean much a year ago on their way to a 5-11 campaign in head coach Vance Joseph’s first year.

A win resets positive vibes and puts the Week 2 loss at Cincinnati in the rear-view mirror, but a defeat would conjure memories of last season when the Ravens couldn’t handle their business at home against underwhelming opponents such as Chicago in Week 6 and the Bengals in Week 17, two losses that led to them falling short of the playoffs.

It’s time to go on record as the Ravens play Denver for the 12th time in the all-time regular-season series with the Broncos holding the 6-5 advantage. Baltimore holds a 5-1 edge in games played at M&T Bank Stadium. Of course, the Ravens are 2-0 against Denver in their playoff history.

Below are five predictions for Sunday:

1. Alex Collins will double his season total for touches in a better commitment to the run. When you’re crushing an opponent through the air in Week 1 and falling behind by three touchdowns in Week 2, the volume of rushing attempts is always going to suffer. However, the explosive Collins averaging only 10 touches per game isn’t a winning formula, and the Ravens have gained just 3.3 yards per carry so far in 2018, meaning they must be more productive when Marty Mornhinweg does call for runs. Denver led the NFL at just 3.3 yards per carry allowed a year ago and is surrendering 3.6 per attempt so far in 2018, so don’t expect a monster day for Collins. He’ll be more involved, however.

2. Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay will receive a rude awakening after a historic start to his career. The rookie became the first undrafted player in NFL history with more than 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his first two games, meaning he’s firmly on the opposition’s radar now. The Ravens are concerned with Linday’s speed, which plays more to the edges as Denver continues to employ principles of Gary Kubiak’s outside-zone system. The potential absences of linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive tackle Michael Pierce are clear concerns, but the ability of outside linebackers and defensive ends to contain will be just as critical. The Ravens will hold Lindsay to under 60 yards.

3. Brandon Carr will continue a hot start by intercepting Broncos quarterback Case Keenum. Lost in the disappointment of last week’s performance against the Bengals was how well the veteran continued to play as Pro Football Focus grades Carr as the third-best cornerback in the NFL through two weeks. He won’t continue playing at that elite level, but the Ravens will need him and Marlon Humphrey to lock down the outside because Mosley’s potential absence and Tavon Young’s Week 2 struggles leave concerns about covering the middle of the field. That said, Keenum has already thrown four interceptions in his first two games and will be pressured into throwing another key one.

4. Von Miller will record a sack, but the Ravens offensive line will bounce back. The Ravens are one of only four opponents the six-time Pro Bowl selection hasn’t registered a sack against — he did share one with Elvis Dumervil in the 2012 playoffs — but Miller will present big problems for right tackle James Hurst, leaving tight end Nick Boyle to help him out as much as possible. The key will be Ronnie Stanley elevating his play against rookie first-round pick Bradley Chubb on the opposite side. The offensive line needs to play better collectively, but Stanley has graded just 45th among offensive tackles by PFF. He’ll be better, and the Ravens will protect the pocket more effectively than last week.

5. Joe Flacco will be turnover-free and efficient in a balanced 23-16 win over the Broncos. Whenever Flacco has a monster game throwing the ball at will like he did in Week 1, we’re quickly reminded that he isn’t one of the few quarterbacks who can consistently thrive throwing the ball 40-plus times in a game. The Ravens need to be more productive on the ground moving forward, especially playing four of their next five on the road after Sunday. Denver is talented enough to come into Baltimore and win if John Harbaugh’s team sleepwalks again early, but the Ravens are a better team playing at home and the Broncos’ narrow home wins over Seattle and Oakland were hardly statement games. A win puts the Ravens back on track, but a loss could set off an early-season slide. Home-field advantage and extra rest following a Thursday game will be the difference in a win lacking style points.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens’ injury report took a turn for the worse just two days before the Week 3 meeting with Denver.

Pro Bowl inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (knee) was designated as questionable to play against the Broncos, but he didn’t practice a day after taking part on a limited basis. His presence on the field Thursday had been an encouraging sign after he was carted off the field with a bone bruise in his left knee in Week 2, but it now appears more likely he’ll miss just the third game of his NFL career. Asked about Mosley’s status following Friday’s practice, head coach John Harbaugh provided no comment other than deferring to the pending release of the injury report.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (right elbow), linebacker Matthew Judon (hamstring), and defensive tackle Michael Pierce (foot) were also listed as questionable on the final injury report, but Stanley and Judon are expected to play after being upgraded to full participation in Friday’s practice. Pierce was suited up and on the field during the portion of Friday’s workout open to the media, but he was listed as a non-participant on the injury report. The potential absence of both Mosley and Pierce could spell trouble against the Broncos’ second-ranked running game.

Baltimore ruled out rookie cornerback Anthony Averett, who hadn’t been listed on the injury report this week before apparently suffering a hamstring injury on Thursday. The fourth-round pick’s absence means the Ravens have only four healthy cornerbacks on their 53-man roster: Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Tavon Young, and rookie free agent Darious Williams.

What was considered a position of great depth in the preseason now looks perilously thin as Jimmy Smith serves the final two games of his suspension, Maurice Canady and Stanley Jean-Baptiste are on injured reserve, and the promising Averett is now sidelined. Defensive backs Robertson Daniel and Makinton Dorleant are both on the practice squad while dime back Anthony Levine has experience playing corner and safety Chuck Clark has played some in big nickel packages, leaving the Ravens some internal options to try to address their depth concerns.

There had been some speculation that the Ravens could move on from veteran cornerback Brandon Carr this past offseason, but the durable 32-year-old has instead been the third-best cornerback in the league in Pro Football Focus’ grading system through two weeks while extending his impressive consecutive games streak to 162. Needless to say, the organization is fortunate to have both his leadership and strong play in the secondary so far this season.

“He’s done a great job. Brandon is a pro. He has a track record,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been a real honor to sit here and watch him work and see how he goes about his business every single day. I’ve enjoyed that, and that’s who he is. It’s incredible. It’s a statement. He deserves a lot of credit for what he continues to accomplish in this league.”

Running back Alex Collins and outside linebacker Tim Williams were not included in the final injury report despite dealing with illnesses earlier in the week.

Four Broncos players were listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, but Denver head coach Vance Joseph confirmed starting right tackle Jared Veldheer has cleared concussion protocol, making him a good bet to play against the Ravens. Starting inside linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) practiced on a limited basis Friday and is questionable for Sunday’s game while veteran defensive back Adam Jones (thigh) missed practices all week.

According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast in Baltimore calls for periods of rain and temperatures reaching the mid-60s with winds up to six miles per hour. The chance of rain is listed at 80 percent.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Just a week after many feared the worst when C.J. Mosley was carted to the locker room in Cincinnati, the Ravens linebacker made a surprising return to practice on Thursday.

Mosley was a limited participant after many assumed him playing in Week 3 would be out of the question due to a bone bruise in his left knee. His presence on the field hardly guarantees he’ll suit up against Denver on Sunday, but Mosley jogged, hit the sled, and even practiced backpedaling during the portion of practice open to media. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has missed only two games in his NFL career and has played in games in the past after logging minimal practice time during the week.

The news wasn’t as encouraging for defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who remains sidelined with a foot injury. Pierce didn’t appear to leave last Thursday’s game early and even spoke to reporters after the 34-23 loss to the Bengals, but his absence would be significant as the Ravens try to slow the NFL’s second-ranked rushing attack. The reserve nose tackle is Baltimore’s highest-graded player in Pro Football Focus’ system through the first two weeks of the 2018 season.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (right elbow) practiced on a limited basis for a second straight day. The Ravens hope to have him at close to full strength to help an offensive line ranked just 28th by PFF so far this season.

Starting running back Alex Collins was a full participant in Thursday’s workout after sitting out the previous day with an illness.

The Broncos welcomed starting quarterback Case Keenum to practice after he missed Wednesday’s session due to knee soreness, but three other key veterans remained absent.